Wall mounting devices

ABSTRACT

Wall mounting assemblies and methods whereby the assembly includes a bracket that has two frame members coupled at a hinge. Each frame member has a hook for engaging a recess or slot on a panel. The assembly further includes a panel that has edges that are configured to engage the edges of adjacent panels, without the need for tilting the panel to engage. Each panel has two slots for receiving the bracket. Bending the two frame members on the bracket causes the bracket&#39;s hooks to lock into the slots on the panel.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/455,821 filed on Aug. 8, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/683,835 filed on Nov. 21, 2012, now U.S. Pat.No. 8,800,212 issued Aug. 12, 2014, which claims benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/563,424 filed on Nov. 23, 2011,which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is wall mounting devices.

BACKGROUND

The background description includes information that may be useful inunderstanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any ofthe information provided herein is prior art or relevant to thepresently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically orimplicitly referenced is prior art.

Various wall mounting devices for handing and storing items on a wallare known. US 2009/0134290 to Begic, for example, describes a slatwallmounting system that includes a wall mountable rail member (e.g., panel)and a bracket member. The rail member has slots for receiving thebracket member. The bracket member has a hook portion for hanging itemsthereon, and a cam for securely engaging a slot on the rail member.

As another example, US 2010/0122505 to Jakiel describes a slatwallsystem for mounting on a wall. The system comprises a plurality of wallpanels that interlock with one another via tongue and grooveattachments. The panels also have slots for engaging brackets.

Other examples of wall mounting devices are found in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,805,784, 6,763,957, and 6,811,043, AU2008200650, and CN201515932U.

These and all other extrinsic materials discussed herein areincorporated by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or useof a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary tothe definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that termprovided herein applies and the definition of that term in the referencedoes not apply.

While wall mounting devices and methods are generally known, thereremains a need to improve such devices and methods in order to optimizespace utilization and reduce the number of installation steps. Therealso remains a need to simplify the installation process so that oneperson can easily perform the installation.

Thus, there is still a need for improved wall mounting devices andmethods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems, and methods inwhich a wall mounting assembly includes a plurality of brackets and aplurality of panels. Each bracket is made of two frame members coupledat a hinge. The frame members have a hook for engaging a recess or sloton a panel. The bracket also has an elongated member extending from theframes for hanging or fastening items to a wall.

Each panel has edges that are configured to engage the edges of adjacentpanels, without the need for tilting the panel to engage. In one aspectof some embodiments, the slots near the edges of the panel are angled.Each panel also has two T-slots for receiving the hooks of the brackets.The brackets can lock onto the t-slots by rotating (e.g., bending) thetwo frame members on the bracket, which causes the hooks to lock intothe slots on the panel.

Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventivesubject matter will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanyingdrawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wall mounting assembly.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bracket for a wall mounting assembly.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the bracket of FIG. 2 in a first (engaging)position.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the bracket of FIG. 2 in a second (disengaging)position.

FIG. 5 is perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 2 in a second(disengaging) position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plurality of panels for a wallmounting assembly.

FIG. 7a is a side view of a plurality of panels for a wall mountingassembly.

FIG. 7b is a close-up side view of a first panel engaged with a secondpanel.

FIG. 7c is a close-up side view of a first panel disengaged with asecond panel.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a wall mounting assembly being used tostore items.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bracket and two bracket covers.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the bracket and bracket covers of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a bracket with a rotatable hook.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following discussion provides many example embodiments of theinventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a singlecombination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter isconsidered to include all possible combinations of the disclosedelements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and asecond embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subjectmatter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A,B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.

One should appreciate that the disclosed techniques provide manyadvantageous technical effects including improved methods and devicesfor mounting components to walls.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a wall mounting assembly 100.Assembly 100 includes a panel 110 and a plurality of brackets 120, 130,and 140. Brackets 120, 130, and 140 removably and repositionably engageslots on panel 110. Assembly 100 is useful for storing items on a wall.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a bracket 200. Bracket 200 has afirst frame member 210 and a second frame member 220 that are rotatablycoupled via hinge 230. First frame member 210 has an L-shaped hook 240for engaging a recess or slot. Bracket 200 also has an elongated member260 extending therefrom, for hanging an item.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the bracket 200. This view reveals anL-shaped hook 250 on second frame member 220. FIG. 3 shows bracket 200in a first position, also referred to as an engaging position. In theengaging position, hooks 240 and 250 are downward and upward facing,respectively, and can be used to grab two recesses (e.g., slots) on awall or panel.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of bracket 200. FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3except that second frame member 220 has been rotated with respect tofirst frame member 210, about hinge 230. FIG. 4 shows bracket 200 in asecond position, also referred to as a disengaging position. In thedisengaging position, hook 250 is angled outward so that a recess can bedisengaged. Second frame member 220 has an angled handle portion 221that allows a user to grip and rotate second frame member 220.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the back side of bracket 200 in thedisengaging position. First frame member 210 has an opening 211 throughwhich hook 250 is disposed.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a plurality of disengaged panels 600for a wall mounting assembly. Panel 610 and panel 620 engage one anotherto form a wall mountable panel for attaching brackets. Trim panels 630,640, 650, and 660 provide a border around panels 610 and 620.

FIG. 7a shows a side view of a plurality of panels 700 for a wallmounting assembly. Panels 700 include a first panel 710 engaged with asecond panel 720. Panel 710 and panel 720 are substantially identical.Trim panels 740 and 760 engage panels 720 and 710 at their lower andupper edges, respectively.

First panel 710 has first major surface (i.e., a front surface) and asecond major surface (i.e., a back surface). On the first major surfaceis a first t-shaped slot 711 and a second t-shaped slot 712 runningparallel to one another along the length of panel 710. Slots 711 and 712are separated by distance 713. Panel 710 has a height 714. The height ofpanel 710 is extended by a distance 715 when trim panel 760 is engagedwith panel 710. Trim panel 760 has a height of 716.

The first and second major surfaces of panel 710 are joined by a firstedge (i.e., a top edge) and a second edge (i.e., a bottom edge), eachhaving an acute angle (e.g., acute angle 719). The first major surfaceof first panel 710 has a first angled slot 717 near the second edge ofpanel 710. Second major surface of panel 710 has a second angled slot718 near the first edge of panel 710. The top edge of panel 710 is sizedand dimensioned to engage the lower angled slot on an adjacent panel,whereas the bottom edge is sized and dimensioned to engage the upperangled slot on an adjacent panel.

FIG. 7b shows a close-up side view of the engagement of the lower edgeof first panel 710 with the upper edge of second panel 720. When the twoedges are engaged, there is a hollow channel 721 disposed therebetweendue to the angle of angled edge 719 and the shape of first angled slot717.

FIG. 7c shows a close-up side view of first panel 710 disengaged withtrim panel 760. Engagement is achieved by overlaping the edge of panel710 with the edge of panel 760, and pushing panel 710 forward anddownward. Panel 710 can remain substantially parallel with panel 760during the engagement. The angled configurations of the slots and edgeson the panels eliminates the need to tilt the panels to achieve anengagement.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a wall mounting assembly 800 being usedto store items, such as container 810. Assembly 800 includes a pluralityof panels and brackets (e.g., bracket 820 and panels 830).

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a bracket 900 and two bracket covers910 and 920. Covers 910 and 920 can be sized, dimensioned, colored, andotherwise configured to resemble the back of a smart phone or some otherconsumer product.

FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of bracket 900. Covers 910 and 920removably couple with bracket 900 by slidably engaging the edges ofbracket 900. Bracket 900 has two holes 930 for removably receivingelongated member 940. Holes 930 can have threads, snap-fittingprotrusions, or some other means for removably securing elongated member940 in place. In this manner, bracket 900 can be exchangeably used withdifferent configurations of elongated members, hangers, shelving, andthe like.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a bracket 1100 that has a rotatablehook 1110. Hook 1110 can rotate outward as shown by arrow 1120.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow,the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the descriptionherein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise.

The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve asa shorthand method of referring individually to each separate valuefalling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, eachindividual value is incorporated into the specification as if it wereindividually recited herein. Unless the context dictates the contrary,all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive oftheir endpoints, and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to includecommercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should beconsidered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the contextindicates the contrary.

All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable orderunless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted bycontext. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g.“such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein isintended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose alimitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No languagein the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimedelement essential to the practice of the invention.

Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the inventiondisclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each groupmember can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combinationwith other members of the group or other elements found herein. One ormore members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group forreasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion ordeletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the groupas modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markushgroups used in the appended claims.

As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term“coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which twoelements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirectcoupling (in which at least one additional element is located betweenthe two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with”are used synonymously.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many moremodifications besides those already described are possible withoutdeparting from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subjectmatter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the scope of theappended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification andthe claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possiblemanner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises”and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements,components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that thereferenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized,or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are notexpressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at leastone of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . andN, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from thegroup, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of installing a wall mounting assemblyto a wall, comprising the steps of: fastening a first panel to the wall;overlapping a bottom edge of the first panel with a top edge of a secondpanel, the bottom edge having a recessed channel with a first angledslot and the top edge having a second angled slot sized and dimensionedto engage the first angled slot; and moving the second panel in a firstdirection until the second angled slot engages the first angled slot sothat the top edge of the second panel entirely hides the recessedchannel of the bottom edge of the first panel.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the angled slots each have an interlocking hook that is engagedduring the step of moving the second panel in the first direction. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving results in the secondpanel being suspended by the first panel.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the first panel and the second panel are parallel during thestep of moving the second panel in the first direction.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising the step of fastening the second panel tothe wall.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first panel and thesecond panel are identical.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstsurface intersects the second surface at an acute angle.
 8. A method ofinstalling a wall mounting assembly to a wall, comprising the steps of:fastening a first panel to the wall, the first panel having first angledslot along a bottom edge that extends upward from a rear surface of thefirst panel to a front surface of the first panel; and coupling a secondpanel to the first panel such that (i) the first and second panels aresubstantially parallel during coupling and (ii) the rear surface of thefirst panel and a rear surface of the second panel face the wall,wherein the second panel comprises a second angled slot along a topedge, and wherein a top surface of the top edge extends downward from afront surface of the second panel to the rear surface of the secondpanel.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the upward angled slot facesaway from the wall upon fastening the first panel to the wall.
 10. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the downward angled slot faces toward thewall during the step of coupling.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein thefirst panel and the second panel are identical.
 12. The method of claim8, wherein the step of coupling the second panel to the first panel isperformed by moving the second panel in an angled downward directiontoward the wall.
 13. A method of installing a wall mounting assembly toa wall, comprising the steps of: attaching a first panel to the wall,the first panel having an upward angled hook along a bottom edge thatcreates a slot, wherein the upward angled hook extends from a back sideof the first panel to a front side of the first panel; bringing a topedge of a second panel into contact with the bottom edge of the firstpanel, the top edge forming a downward angled hook extending from afront side of the second panel to a back side of the second panel,wherein a top surface of the top edge extends downwardly from the frontside of the second panel to the back side of the second panel; andinserting the downward angled hook along the top edge of the secondpanel into the slot of the first panel such that (i) the first panelsuspends the second panel and (ii) the back side of the first panel andthe back side of the second panel face the wall.
 14. The method of claim13, wherein the step of inserting the downward angled hook along the topedge of the second panel into the slot suspends the second panel againstthe wall below the first panel such that the first and second panels arecoplanar.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first panel and thesecond panel are identical.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein thefirst panel and the second panel have identical top and bottom edgefeatures.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of bringing thetop edge of the second panel into contact with the bottom edge of thefirst panel is performed by moving the second panel in a directiontoward the wall.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step ofinserting the downward angled hook along the top edge of the secondpanel into the slot is performed by moving the second panel in an angleddownward direction toward the wall.
 19. The method of claim 18, whereinthe second panel is parallel with the first panel during the step ofbringing the top edge of the second panel into contact with the bottomedge of the first panel.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the secondpanel is parallel with the first panel during the step of inserting thedownward angled hook along the top edge of the second panel into theslot.